Abu Dhabi Won't Bail Out Dubai With Blank Check

UAE capital will 'pick and choose' its aid
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 28, 2009 1:39 PM CST
Abu Dhabi Won't Bail Out Dubai With Blank Check
A camel keeper feeds his camels in the outskirts of Dubai. Burj Dubai, the world's tallest under construction tower is seen in the background.   (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Investors who hoped that oil-rich Abu Dhabi would write a blank check to cover the massive debts of Dubai—its flashier UAE sister city—got some bad news today. The capital city will instead "pick and choose" where to help. "We will look at Dubai's commitments and approach them on a case-by-case basis," a government official told Reuters. "It does not mean that Abu Dhabi will underwrite all of their debts."

Dubai set off tremors in world markets this week when it announced it would delay payment on $60 billion in debt. "Some of Dubai's entities are commercial, semi-government ones," said the Abu Dhabi official, whose government provided $15 billion in immediate relief through the central bank of the United Arab Emirates. No more is coming "until things become clearer. ... Many things have to be clarified by Dubai." (More Dubai stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X